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Taming the Gems’ key to series success

Ohio
Published 6:26 p.m. ET Aug. 9, 2014

Chillicothe Paints Ryan Dawson hit a single during the third inning against the Butler Bluesox on Friday at V.A. Memorial Stadium allowing base runner Zach Jacobs to score a run.

CHILLICOTHE – The Chillicothe Paints have been one of the strongest teams this year with one of the best offenses and defenses. When both functions are working together, they can be unbeatable.

The Paints prepared to face Butler, a team that had the best statistical offense in many pitching categories, and swept the Blue Sox in a three-game division championship series 6-2 and 5-0.

Now, the Paints are getting ready to face the Quincy Gems in the Prospect League Championship series, a team that is comparable to Chillicothe’s offense.

The two teams are often first and second or second and third in many major batting categories from the regular season. Chillicothe led the Prospect League with 534 hits in the regular season, 30 more than the Gems. The Paints had the league’s highest home run total at 32, six more than Quincy.

The Gems’ offense comes in hot after scoring 18 runs in Saturday’s game to defeat the Danville Dans 18-5 to win the West Division Championship Series 2-1.

To be successful, the Paints will hope pitching wins games because that is the largest area of separation between the teams. Though Quincy only allowed 20 more runs in the regular season than the Paints, the Gems had the fifth highest walk totals of the 11 teams. Allowing these baserunners didn’t hurt the Gems during the regular season, but the Paints took pride in driving in free baserunners during the season.

The expected starter for Chillicothe is Keegan Akin, who was 2-0 in nine starts with a 2.20 ERA in nine starts and 45 innings pitched and a 33-21 strikeout to walks ratio.

Akin’s last start came Aug. 2 when he pitched 4 2/3innings and allowed four runs — three earned — on eight hits, while walking three and striking out two.

The Paints could face Quincy’s left-handed pitcher Jake Busiek, whose last start was Thursday in the Gems’ 2-0 loss to Danville. In that game, Busiek allowed two runs on five hits while striking out six and walking three.

During the regular season, Busiek had a 8-1 record in 65 2/3 innings. He possessed an impressive 75 to 25 strikeouts to walks ratio.

Game 1 of the best-of-three series will start at 7:05 p.m. in Quincy today. Game 2 will be played at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday at the VA Memorial Stadium and a Game 3, if necessary, will be played at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday also in Chillicothe.